The Leimert Park Village Initiative held a panel to facilitate a better network between the community and local media outlets.

On Monday, March 3, the Leimert Park Village 20/20 Vision Planning Initiative (LPV20/20) invited a panel of media outlets and realty experts to help build a better bridge of communication between the community and media at the Vision Theater in Leimert Park. The panel included, KJLH Account Executive, Rochelle Lucas, The Dialogue radio host, Starlett Quarles, Keller Williams Realtor, Heather Lee Presha and the Sentinel.

“We want to be able to promote Leimert Park as an international destination for culture and arts,” said Sherri Franklin, Urban Planner and Development Advisor of Roland A. Wiley of Raw International. “But we have to do it in a planned way.”

LPV 20/20 is a committee that has been assigned by the Greater Leimert Park Village Crenshaw Corridor Business Improvement District and Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Council, which is in partnership with Leimert Park Stakeholders. It is the goal of the committee, over the next six years, to revitalize, create and build a better Leimert Park Village and hub for South Los Angeles. Leimert Park stakeholders have six distinct objectives which include:

*Propose Transit Oriented Development Concepts for the Public Parking Lots Adjacent to the Vision Theatre and Metro Station Site

*Asset Map Leimert Park Village Development and New Business Opportunities

*Develop a “Leimert Park Village” Brand Marketing and Business Development Strategy

*Create an Integrated Fund and Resource Development Strategy

Some of the topics discussed at the panel included the areas that encompass Leimert Park, public perceptions and geographic location, the possible renaming of the area, keeping Leimert Park merchants and businesses and the main purpose of the event: creating better communication with the media. The panelists shared their ideas about the best way to go about sharing vital information about current affairs, merchants and Leimert Park in general.

“There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom,” said Presha. “I really want to enforce this on the media that you can do as much research as you want but without actually coming here (Leimert Park) and being here and being present—you don’t have the wisdom to fulfill that knowledge and they go together.

“I think that is what we need at this point, in order to take things to the next level.”

For more information on how you can contribute or be a part of the Leimert Park’s 20/20 vision of the future, vist www.leimertparkvillage.org . You can also follow like them on Facebook and follow on Twitter.